Publication TBA October
It's easy to get lost in your mind as you imagine yourself taking in all that the luxurious Foxbourne Park estate has to offer. Lavinia Foxbourne and Ellie, ie the Dowager Countess of Stow, have been friends "forever", so the invite came through her connections. Leta Parker is still searching for that perfect site for her dream wedding to Dave Prentiss and this place has luxury and dream wedding vibes in overdrive. Then, oops, there's a murder. Fortunately DI Gemma is with the group for the trip, well, until she gets a call to come home ASAP as a family member has taken a fall from a ladder. That leaves Leta and the ladies, ie the LOL (Little Old Ladies) sleuths alone at the estate to try to sift out info and make it all make sense. Edward was admittedly a charmer but also a womanizer and had money problems. Who'd have killed him, in a fancy spa of all places? Dave, while not on site, makes his presence known via regular phone calls and doing some internet searching and sleuthing for them.
I won't detail the plot much further except to say that despite Leta's best efforts to not get involved in the investigation, circumstances force her to at least chat and listen. That translates to asking her usual good questions and paying her also usual attention to detail. It is, of course, no accident that the family has put her in the Amethyst Room, ie the honeymoon suite, for her stay, I might note. She's pretty much already in love with the idea of having her wedding there, although the idea of there being a murder there is, well, troublesome. You'll have to read to see how that turns out.
Bottom line, this has become a "must read" series. I'm character driven as a reader and Penn's charming cast is wonderfully fleshed out and I feel like I'm getting together with old friends when I open her books. True, I wouldn't mind having a bit of a Downton Abbey moment with them at such a wonderful setting, either, but it's the people who always stand out. They're all unique and, more important, friends who might as well be family. I loved how they accepted Dave into the fold earlier and, btw, his moments on the phone as he chats with Leta with cat Christie's input are a hoot. Nope, not sharing. Don't want to spoil your smiles and maybe laughter as you read. While you're enjoying the company of this delightful group, you'll learn a bit about art, jewelry making, not to mention jeweled daggers. And, oh, don't stop reading after the big reveal, which was rather sad. The ending is beautifully rendered, however, one long time readers will love. Just be prepared to fall in love with these people and want to read the entire series post-haste. Thanks to the author for allowing me this early read. I wish I could sneak into your suitcase next trip to "research" in the Cotswold area.
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